By PAUL GOTHAM
HILTON, N.Y. — With nearly 70 percent of Northstar Christian Academy’s goal production sitting on the bench, Pat Forrester and her Keshequa girls’ soccer team knew that space in the final third would come at a premium during Saturday’s Section V Class D quarterfinal.
Coming into the contest averaging five goals per game, the Wildcats were stymied for 50-plus minutes. Passes into space were greeted with swarms of the red jerseys worn by Northstar Christian players.
“It was really frustrating,” said Keshequa’s leading scorer, Ava Thayer. “I was getting tripled every time I the ball came to me.”
Credit Thayer and teammates for not giving into the pressure.
When she finally found a sliver of room in the 53rd minute, Thayer took advantage with a shot from outside the 18-yard box that clanged off the right post and into the back of the net.
“She took away the angle, so I could go to the middle,” Thayer said when she was denied the opportunity to dribble into the 18-yard box. “I thought maybe the wind was going to take it, but it came back in.”
Braelyn Isaman added an insurance goal with less nine minutes remaining in the match.
“My coaches are always yelling at me that I don’t shoot from the 18,” the sophomore forward said. “I was open with my left foot, so I just ripped it.
“We knew they were going to crowd the box because they were missing players. The first half, we were trying to play with the wind and push up more. It didn’t really work. I don’t know how we scored more in the second half. Definitely battled through it.”
Class D 53’ Ava Thayer snaps the scoreless tie. Keshequa 1 Northstar 0 @secvgirlssoccer pic.twitter.com/ITxAYjX3Bj
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 26, 2024
Class D 72’ Braelyn Isaman gives Keshequa a 2-nil lead over Northstar. pic.twitter.com/AixlQX0Tvw
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 26, 2024
Thayer had an opportunity late in the first half when teammate Alivia Cartwright stepped in front of a clearing. A couple passes later, with the Northstar defense recovering, she let a right-footed blast go.
Northstar Christian keeper, Alisha Demarest made a diving stop for one of her 15 saves in the game.
“They executed the game plan very well,” Forrester said of Northstar. “You can tell why they haven’t given up a lot of goals this season. They’re a wall back there. We practiced the last couple of days being patient, moving the ball around, possessing and just taking advantage of that opening when it came.”
HT Class D: Big save from Alisha Demarest keeps the match scoreless between Keshequa and @NCA1972 pic.twitter.com/A6dlJ2KIUv
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 26, 2024
With the win, No. 5 Keshequa (12-5-0) advanced to play either top-ranked Fillmore or No. 9 Avoca-Prattsburgh.
“They played with heart, and they played hard,” Northstar head coach Andre Demarest said. “Played as hard as they could for the full 80 minutes, and that’s what we care about. We knew going in what we’d have to do, and they did it. We’re okay with it.”
No. 4 Northstar (12-5-0) played without senior Grace Kearney (28 goals/8 assists) and sophomore Allie Skeval (18 goals/13 assists) who both suffered season-ending injuries in the Knights’ regular season finale.
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